Zohran Mamdani’s FIFA World Cup 2026 jerseys being sold at 2000 times the price on Ebay: Report

Zohran Mamdani’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Jerseys Face 2,000% Markup on eBay

Ticket Pricing Controversy

Theindiapostdaily.com – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani secured 1,000 tickets priced at $50 each, including complimentary round-trip travel for working-class residents. This initiative followed N.J. Transit’s decision to charge $150 for match-day rail passes to MetLife Stadium. To support accessibility, the city allocated $6 million for a free public viewing event in Central Park’s Great Lawn, accommodating 50,000 attendees, and planned fan festivals across all five boroughs. Additionally, an expanded ferry schedule was introduced to ease transportation.

Despite these efforts, ticket prices on FIFA’s official platform skyrocketed to $32,970. Attorneys general have since launched an investigation into alleged intentional price hikes, as noted in a Fortune report. The discrepancy highlights a growing concern over affordability for local fans.

Jersey Resale Surge

Earlier this week, Mamdani unveiled a limited release of 1,500 New York City-themed World Cup jerseys. These items were available only at the city’s CityStore, which opened at 9 a.m. on Friday. The exclusive offer sparked early morning crowds, with New Yorkers reportedly gathering overnight to secure a spot in line.

Within hours of the release, the $50 jerseys were already being sold on eBay for up to $1,150. This represents a 2,000% markup, mirroring the price inflation Mamdani criticized during his campaign. The resale market, left unregulated by the city, has become a point of contention for his supporters.

Game Over Greed Petition

In September, Mamdani’s campaign introduced the “Game Over Greed” petition, targeting FIFA’s practices. The initiative demanded three reforms: ending dynamic pricing, capping secondary sales, and reserving 15% of tickets for locals at discounted rates. He specifically criticized FIFA’s resale platform for allowing unchecked price increases, stating, “That means you can buy a ticket for 60 bucks and resell it for $6,000.”

“The biggest sporting event in the world is happening in your backyard, and you’ll be priced out of it,” he warned in a video promoting the petition.

Mamdani emphasized his commitment to affordability during the $50 ticket lottery, vowing, “Working people will not be priced out of the game they helped create.” However, the jersey resale frenzy on Friday revealed challenges in keeping costs low, as the city’s own policies seemed to enable the same market dynamics it sought to counter. Fortune was present as CityStore staff announced the jerseys had sold out, leaving fans scrambling.